Treatment for ODD often includes medical treatment for other mental illnesses or health conditions, parent training, behavior modification, and psychotherapy or counseling.
For parents of children with ODD, life can be one large battleground. Parents can adopt some strategies to help their child and their family cope with ODD:
- Choose your battles. Children with ODD do not try to avoid power struggles. They will argue with you and attempt to defy your rules. Be consistent in your discipline and simple in your approach. If you want your child to clean their room, do not allow yourself to get sidetracked in an argument. State your demand clearly; provide rewards for completing and consequences for not completing. Let your child know that you will not stand and argue with them.
- Focus on the positives. Praise your child when they do something well or behave according to your rules. Provide positive reinforcement on a consistent basis.
- Allow yourself time-outs in order to avoid a large conflict. Walk away from the situation for a few minutes to avoid over-reacting and then come back calmly. Let your child know that this technique will work for them when they feel they are going to react explosively to a situation.
- Review your expectations to determine if they are age-appropriate. Set rules and list the consequences for not following the rules. Be calm and consistent in your approach to discipline.
- Become involved in your child’s interests to show that you support them. Find out what they are interested in and what they enjoy. Spend time learning about your child so that you can show that they matter to you.
- Find ways to give yourself support. Join local support groups. Create outside interests and hobbies to give you time to enjoy yourself. Children with mental illnesses are often demanding and draining on the entire family. Initiating activities that you enjoy will help you to be more relaxed when dealing with your child’s behaviors.
Children with ODD need your love and support. They need to know that you will unconditional love them and accept them.
Sources
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, The National Institute of Mental Health
Children with Oppositional Defiant Disorder, 1999, American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), 2005, Mayo Clinic
